This past weekend was our CYUP Fall Ministry Project. It started Friday night at seven with a quiz mostly to break the ice, give us something to do and get to know each other. I found myself signing for being on a swim team, getting up before six o'clock and having a cat. We then went outside and split into two teams, each of us with a number. Joel Hart called our numbers and we played human tick-tac-toe, by choosing which square we wanted to stand in. Next, we played a game were three groups of us stood in a circle holding hands with a hoola-hoop. We had to get the hoola-hoop all the way around the circle without letting go. Both games were fun!!

Back inside, we sat in the santuary, sang Psalms and then Pastor Rich Holdeman spoke about making good decisions. Having the proper goal, using the tools God has given us, having the proper attitude and embracing responsibility were just a few of his points. Then James Fairs announced where each of us would be going to serve. My team to the Lafayette camp, included: Ruth, Luke, Ollie, Julia, Trevor and Lyndsi.

I slept at Pastor Johnston's house, staying up till around one o'clock talking and then waking up at 5:45 am to get ready to go. We ate breakfast, packed our lunches and were in the car to Lafayette at eight. Ken Nelson drove my team and the Lafayette Church team, which included: Becca, Lindsey, Julie, Elizabeth, Matt and Caleb. It didn't seem like we had a lot of space in our van, but we managed!

At the Pentacostal camp, Eleni, Ross and Robert helped my team stain a deck around the back. It wasn't especially hard, though I did get stain all over myself. We worked there until around three or so, and then got picked up and did some lawn work with the other Lafayette team at the Nelson and Long homes. Both teams went to the Kessler's for dinner. We had angus burgers, homemade macaroni and cheese, veggies and pop. It was delicious.

Ruth, Becca, Lyndsi and I stayed the night at Pastor Long's house. We were having some theological discussions before going to bed, and right in the middle someone rang the doorbell and we discovered that the yard had been TPed and Forked, right before it started raining. We didn't stay up too late. In the morning, we ate, packed up all our junk and piled into their van to go to church. Service was encouraging. Pastor Long preached on self-control and then in Sunday school Mr. Kessler talked about John Calvin.

There was fellowship lunch after service, so our two groups ate and then piled back into the van to drive back to Indy for the life chain. It was good to stand downtown and protest a cause like abortion. Afterwards we went back to Northside and most everyone didn't stay for service. By the time I finally got home around 8:30pm, I was totally exhausted and ready to go to bed, but before I did, I told my parents all about my time. A big thanks to everyone who made FM such a success! The End.

Quote of the post:
"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Last night my mom and I went to see the Civic Theatre muscial production of Little Women. I really loved it! The costumes were beautiful, the actors and actresses all had beautiful voices and even though none of the songs were especially memorable, or songs that you'd want to sing outside the play, it was still a wonderful production. As I was sitting there watching, I was thinking how nice it was to be on the receiving end, but at the same time, how much I miss our play Little Women and how I would love to be in another play like it someday!




Somehow I could see each of us in the sisters. If you can remember, there was a scene where Amy burned Jo's story and Jo becomes extremely angry at Amy. I think our fight was much better than theirs. We had so much more emotion and probably, actually scared our audience. Not that they didn't, I just think we did better. If you're wondering, yes I did cry when Beth died. My mom and I sat in the very first row, and I could see the tears in Beth and Jo's eyes. It was very sad.

Quote of the post:
"Jo:Please don't go so far away!
Professor:I have nothing to give, my hands are empty.
Jo (taking his hand): Not empty now"
- Little Women, the movie

I don't know how many of you have read the Harry Potter books. I know there is definitely some tension surrounding them because of the whole wizard / witch issue and the magic surrounding them. This summer I decided I was going to read them and I just finished the fifth one. All the books are captivating, as they keep you wondering what's coming next. I became thoroughly engrossed in the fifth one and even got tears in my eyes when one of my favorite characters was killed. According to one person I talked to about the books, "Harry Potter does not have a strong distinction between good and evil, good does not always triumph over evil." I agree with this because obviously God is in control and we don't need magic, which would make the wizards and witches evil, coming at it that way. However I also disagree. In this fictional series there are both good and bad wizards, and even though the evil does win sometimes, good is always victorious at the end of the book. Personally, I found them very agreeable. I would like to know your opinions on this, because its a somewhat touchy subject in Christian circles.

Quote of the post:
"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." - Professor Dumbledore

My mom, Andrew, Daniel, Philip and Jessica are coming home today. It has been a nice quiet weekend without them here. I talked on the phone without being interrupted for at least six hours (not straight, that's all the times I talked on the phone) while they've been gone. My dad and I went and saw "lady in the water", which I would give a pretty good review. I also got to cook for my dad and then just the two of us greeted at church yesterday. It's been good.

Philip - my little brother - is terribly excited because he entered honey in the county fair and the honey is now going to the state fair. I'm really proud of him. Jessica - my little sister - also entered some things in the county fair, her kitten poster received a reverse champion ribbon and I'm incredibly proud of her as well. I also also very excited for the state fair. Last year I had a blast and actually if I remember right, I think it was the first time I ever went on more than one ride.

Quote of the post:
"Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it." - Anne of Green Gables

I've known I needed to update since Covie, but actually sitting down and writing something worthwhile to read has been really hard. I have a lot that probably needs to be said, however, I can't make it come out the way its in my head.


What does saying you're sorry mean to you?

To me, sorry had always been close enough, but not the same as asking for forgiveness. Its like regretting something and having a sense of loss over whatever happened. In the past I've been told that I say I'm sorry too much, almost that it looses its real meaning because I just throw it around. There have been times when I've asked for and been given forgiveness about something, but the person still hasn't truly forgiven me and I find myself just saying that I'm sorry again and again. I want to just say that when I say I'm sorry, I truly - with all my heart - mean it.

Quote of the post:
"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Others stay awhile, make footprints on our hearts and we are never, ever the same." -Unknown